Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy

Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-02-06 04:18:02
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Rachel Ricketts
  • ISBN:9781982151270
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Thought leader, racial justice educator, and sought-after spiritual activist Rachel Ricketts offers mindful and practical steps for all humans to dismantle white supremacy on a personal and collective level。

Heart-centered and spirit-based practices are the missing but vital piece to achieving racial justice。

Do Better is a revolutionary offering that addresses anti-racism from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spiritually-aligned perspective。 This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices that racial justice educator and healer Rachel Ricketts has developed to fight white supremacy from the inside out, in our personal lives and communities alike。 It is a loving and assertive call to do the deep—and often uncomfortable—inner work that precipitates much-needed external and global change。

Radical racial justice includes daily, intentional, and informed action。 It demands addressing the emotional violence we have perpetuated on ourselves and others (most notably toward Black and Indigenous women and femmes), both as individuals and as a society。 Do Better provides the missing pieces to manifest practicable, sustainable solutions such as identifying where we most get stuck, mitigating the harm we inflict on others, and mending our hearts from our most painful race and gender-based experiences, plus much more。

This inspirational and eye-opening handbook is filled with carefully curated soulcare activities for getting into our bodies and better withstanding the grief, rage, and conflicting emotions that naturally arise when we fight against injustice。 Culturally informed, secular spiritual exercises, such as guided meditations, transformative breathwork, and journaling prompt unpack our privilege, and take up the ongoing fight against oppression, while transforming our own lives along the way。

Editor Reviews

02/01/2021

Antiracism workshop leader and “secular spiritualist” Ricketts offers a primer on combating white supremacy in her accessible, urgent debut。 She opens with an explanation of how pervasive racism is, how trauma can be inherited, and how oppression is internalized by marginalized people。 Defining spirituality as “an ethereal concept。。。 in direct opposition to the analytical, tangible, facts-based knowledge adored by white supremacy,” Ricketts argues spiritualism and social activism go hand-in-hand and notes that “to approach racial justice in a heart-centered and embodied way” requires an honest mindset that allows for righteous rage。 Ricketts, who is Black, shares many personal stories of her own encounters with racism, as well as a heartbreaking account of her mother being spat on for being mixed-race。 She also warns against adopting spiritual practices that focus on profit or rely on cultural appropriation, and prepares readers with a host of immediate actions they can do to combat racism, among them being attuned to microaggressions and considering impact rather than intention of one own’s actions。 Rickett’s conversational tone and accessible activities will prove welcoming to anyone new to racial justice work。 Agent: Cherise Fisher & Wendy Sherman, Wendy Sherman Assoc。 (Mar。)

Publishers Weekly

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Reviews

Zibby Owens

Do Better is about spiritual activism and how we can all work towards dismantling white supremacy in our country—from the inside out。 This book specifically addresses white women and talks about how we are part of the problem and how we can all be part of the change。 Racial justice is work that everyone in our society needs to tackle。 This book made me realize that white people can learn to acknowledge that white supremacy has existed in our history and still exists in our communities and in our Do Better is about spiritual activism and how we can all work towards dismantling white supremacy in our country—from the inside out。 This book specifically addresses white women and talks about how we are part of the problem and how we can all be part of the change。 Racial justice is work that everyone in our society needs to tackle。 This book made me realize that white people can learn to acknowledge that white supremacy has existed in our history and still exists in our communities and in our whole system。 This book challenges white people to do the inner work required to make real change happen。 To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens。com/transcript/rac。。。 。。。more

Bookish Boshemian

𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿。 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆) 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘁。I’ll lead with: folks dont get to decide to if they are an ally or not。 It is up to the community you are trying to ali 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿。 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆) 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘁。I’ll lead with: folks dont get to decide to if they are an ally or not。 It is up to the community you are trying to align yourself in allyship to decide。 It’s decided by your actions because intent alone can still breed violence & perpetuate the very system you are thinking you are standing up against。 If you truly aren’t performative - you’ll muster your way through this no matter how hard it is, because this book is trivial compared to 400+ plus of system oppression others have been forced to live under。This is the book to read after all the Antiracist book stacks have been read。 Its also a hard read for anyone outside of the black community because this is the mirror that makes folks uncomfy - she explains how you are part of the issue no matter how you have convinced yourself that you aren’t。 This is REAL soul work; as Rachel describes the first step to dissembling the system is for people to look inward, and for many to stop assuming white supremacy is a stain they aren’t connected to。 She makes it very clear and explains how no person outside of the black community can say they aren’t。Do Better explains every crevice and root of supremacy AND how to truly combat them, refutes with facts all these off the wall rebuttals often made by folks who prefer deflecting, detaching or gaslighting; and validates the righteous rage of blackpeople。 She walks us through that rage, explain how it effects our health on all fronts (whether you think it does or not); breaks down the cycle of oppressed oppressor-ship and how to break it。 She ALSO breaks down how mixed races individuals , white passing individuals, and POC also perpetuate this system。I LOVE the soul checks after each chapter, the journal prompts that walk you through the triggering parts, the ancestral meditations she integrated。 Rachel doesn’t cut cards, but also acknowledges Antiracist work is hard work; and it’s internal before it could ever be external 。This is also great for black readers interested in processing the trauma experienced due to systemic supremacy and whom wish to navigate white spaces better;especially without coddling the fragility of those around them (which she explains perpetuates the problem as well; she even breaks down that if you think you navigate them well you still subconsciously increase survival instinct in these spaces)。 。。。more

Brianna Miller

Do Better is an important, insightful read。 Not only did it draw attention to all of the ways that white supremacy plays out (including ways you may not have previously considered), but it actually provided action steps that can be taken to fight for racial justice。As a white, cisgender woman, I've been trying to learn more about racism and white supremacy, including looking within to determine what I could be doing better。 Because this book involves a lot of inward work and soul searching, I th Do Better is an important, insightful read。 Not only did it draw attention to all of the ways that white supremacy plays out (including ways you may not have previously considered), but it actually provided action steps that can be taken to fight for racial justice。As a white, cisgender woman, I've been trying to learn more about racism and white supremacy, including looking within to determine what I could be doing better。 Because this book involves a lot of inward work and soul searching, I think it's a great way to get in tune with where you are currently at and then take the action steps to start improving。 I've read multiple books about racism and white supremacy and feel that this has been the best in terms of giving me actual spelled out steps in terms of what I can do。 It can be very easy to get lost in the research and reading about these subjects without taking action - but this book URGES you to take action throughout, as well as once you've finished reading。This book has many journaling prompts, questions to ask yourself, and meditations weaved throughout。 I think it's ideal to own the physical book so that you can take your time with the journaling prompts and to put in the work。 It'll also be great to have to reference back to, as being an anti-racist is an every day, lifelong commitment。 。。。more

Chantaie

Amazing knowledge sharing and vulnerable, experience-led teaching。 Through her work, Rachel teaches and demonstrates empathy and compassion。 A must read for anyone truly interested in anti-racism and social justice work。 There’s an opportunity for healing for anyone willing to dot he work and Rachel lays out exactly how to get started。

Andrea

*I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review*This book is both easy to read and extremely challenging, Rachel has a way of writing that draws you in and makes you think about the world in a way differently than you have been。 Through a whole variety of topics the author delves deep into the ways that White Supremacy infiltrates every part of life and how to address these issues from a rounded and spiritual approach。 Each chapter ends with concrete and practical steps to tak *I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review*This book is both easy to read and extremely challenging, Rachel has a way of writing that draws you in and makes you think about the world in a way differently than you have been。 Through a whole variety of topics the author delves deep into the ways that White Supremacy infiltrates every part of life and how to address these issues from a rounded and spiritual approach。 Each chapter ends with concrete and practical steps to take and where we are not doing enough。This book is challenging, personal, and deep and is a book that everyone should read。 。。。more

Joyce

The author's language takes away from the very important message。 The author's language takes away from the very important message。 。。。more

Stuart Jennings

Ricketts is a very good writer。。。as she covers a verysensitive topic。。。Written with compassion, sincerity and a straight-forwardapproach, this is a book for everyone。。。Very well written and researched。。。a must read in today's world! Ricketts is a very good writer。。。as she covers a verysensitive topic。。。Written with compassion, sincerity and a straight-forwardapproach, this is a book for everyone。。。Very well written and researched。。。a must read in today's world! 。。。more

Roxanne

I could not finish this book, the author cursed too much said words I hate。

Justine

First off, thank you Atria Books for sending me an ARC copy of Do Better。Such a meaningful book。 I love how in depth the author goes into the different ways white supremacy plays out and describes the factors of it to racism。 I appreciated the journal entries in the book that allow the reader to absorb the reading and reflect。 The author provides research and gives personal examples that really bring you into the reality of what's happening。 This book is a great read, especially with the way the First off, thank you Atria Books for sending me an ARC copy of Do Better。Such a meaningful book。 I love how in depth the author goes into the different ways white supremacy plays out and describes the factors of it to racism。 I appreciated the journal entries in the book that allow the reader to absorb the reading and reflect。 The author provides research and gives personal examples that really bring you into the reality of what's happening。 This book is a great read, especially with the way the world is now。 。。。more

Allison Krulik

Interesting read! Thank you to the publisher for a free copy, I enjoyed it!